Lamp holder for fluorescent lamps



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Patented Dec. 21, 1948 LAMP HOLDER FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS Charles H.Hodgkins, Fairfield, Conn, assignor to The Bryant Electric Company,Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application February 9,1945, Serial No. 576,952

9 Claims. (Cl. 173-328) My invention relates, generally, to lamp holdersfor use with tubular discharge devices in the form of fluorescent lampsand the like, and, more particularly, to a lamp holder of the lockingtype which functions to prevent the lamp from falling out of the holderdue to improper lamping, vibration, shock, and other causes.

An object of my invention, generally stated, is to provide a lamp holderof the locking type which shall be of simple and economical constructionand which shall function to effectively lock the lamp in the, holder andstill permit the ready removal thereof for relamping purposes.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a lamp holder ofthe character described wherein the locking device is in the form of -aU-shaped member mounted on the housing of the holder for limitedlongitudinal movement between predetermined limits corresponding to thelocking and unlocking positions of the locking device.

A further object of my invention is to provide a lamp holder of thecharacter described wherein the U-shaped locking member is provided withhook-shaped end portions which cooperate with spaced lugs on the innerside walls of the housing to determine the locking and unlockingpositions of the member.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lamp holder of thecharacter described wherein the U-shaped locking member is given acompound movement when it is partially withdrawn from the housing bymeans of cooperating cam elements on the member and side walls of thehousing.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a lamp holder ofthe character described wherein the leg portions of the U-shaped lockingmember extend into the housing through transverse slots in one endthereof in sliding engage: ment with the inner side walls of thehousing, and have hook-shaped end portions cooperating with a pair ofspaced projections on each side wall to limit the longitudinal movementof the member, and also have cam surfaces cooperating with cam-shapedprojections on the side walls to cause the locking member to tilt awayfrom the face of the housing when it is moved to its unlocking position.

These and other objects of my invention will become more apparent uponthe following detailed description when read in conjunction with thedrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the the contact fingers in awell known manner.

lamp holder embodying the principal features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the lamp holder of Fig. 1 with theback cover removed;

Fig. 3- is an elevational view, partially in section, taken along lineIII-III of Fig. 2 showing the lamp in its normal position in the holderand the locking device in its closed or locking position;

Fig. 4 is a similar view without the lamp showing the locking device inits open or unlocking position;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the locking device;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the looking device; and

Fig. '7 is a top view of the locking device.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, there is shown a lamp holdercomprising, generally, a shell-type housing I0, a pair of contactfingers II and I2, and a locking device l3.

The housing may be formed of molded insulating material and is providedwith a slot l4 in the front face thereof and the lower end thereof, asviewed in the drawing. This slot has an entrance portion l5 at the endof the housing which communicates with the circular portion [6 of theslot.

As shown, the free ends of the contact fingers H and i2 are disposed incooperative relation with the circular portion iii of the slot and apair of spaced lugs l1 and [8 so that the contact pins of a lamp may beinserted into the slot and rotated into contact-making position with Asshown in Fig. 2. the contact fingers II and I2 have bent-over endportions 2| and 22 which are anchored in the base portion 23 of thehousing.

The locking device I3 is in the form of a U- shaped member and ispreferably made of a fiat spring material, as shown best in Figs, 5 and6. It comprises two leg portions 24 and 25 joined together by aconnecting portion 26. The connecting portion 26 is provided with aprojecting portion 21, as shown in Fig, 6, which in the locking positionof the device extends outwardly beyond the face of the holder inoverlapping relation with the base 28 of the lamp 29, as shown in Fig.3.

In this embodiment of the invention,the looking device I3 is so mountedwithin the housing that it has a limited longitudinal movement betweenpredetermined limits and also in such manner that when the device ispartially with- 3 drawn from the housing toits open position, it alsohas a tilting or sidewise movement.

The longitudinal movement together with the sidewise movement provides acompound movement or action which materially limits the degree ofwithdrawal necessary to open the locking device sufficiently to permitthe insertion or removal of a lamp. This functioning of the lockingdevice is effected by the way in which the legs thereof are shaped andthe manner in which it is associated with the housing.

As shown in Fig. 2, the housing is provided with a plurality of pairs oflugs or projections on the inner side walls thereof. As viewed in Fig.2, the

upper pair of projections 3| and 32 may be termed the lockingprojections. The lower pair of projections 33 and 34, which are notclearly shown in Fig. 2 but are more clearly shown in Figs. 3 and .4,may be termed the camming members. The intermediate pair of projections35 and 33, also best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, may be termed the stopmembers.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the free ends of the leg members 24 and 25 ofthe locking device are provided with hook-shaped portions 31 and 38. Inaddition; as shown in Fig. ,6, the hook-shaped portions extend over thefront edges of the legs to provide a'hook member 38. The leg portions ofthe locking device are also provided intermediate their ends withinclined camming surfaces 4i and 42.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 and to Fig. 3, in particular, which showsthe locking device in its closed or locking position, it will'beobserved that when it is in this position the cammingportions and 42 ofthe locking device are in engagement with the camming members 33 and 34of the housing. The hook-shaped portions 31 and 38 of the locking deviceare in engagement with the locking projections 3i and 32, as best shownin Fig. 2.

When it is desired to release or open the locking device to the positionas shown in Fig. 4, it is moved longitudinally of the housing by simplypartially withdrawing it therefrom. This withdrawal movement causes thehook-shaped portions 31 and 38 to become released from the projections3i and 32, and as the device moves outwardly, the cooperating cammingportions on the legs of the device and the housing function to cause thelocking device to tilt backwardly from the face of the holder to theposition shown in Fig. 4;

The outward movement of the lockingdevice is limited by the stop members35 and 36 .which engage the hook portions 33 and at the ends of theU-shaped portions of the device.

As referred to hereinbefore, this provides for obtaining a. compoundmovement of the locking device in order to limit the amount oflongitudinal movement necessary to release the lamp. This is clearlyapparent from the relative positions of the end of the housing and thelocking device, as

shown in Fig. 4. The outer tip of the projecting engage the shoulders 44and on the leg portions of the locking device.

The legs of the locking device are preferably housing of the holder thatit may be readily acspread apart, as shown in Fig. 5, in order that therwill be suflicient frictional engagement between them and the side wallsof the housing to control the movements of the locking device. It willbe apparent that thi also provides for causing the hook-shaped portions37 and 38 to firmly engage the locking projections 3i and 32. The

outward pressure, however, is only suflicient to.

maintain this locking relation when the locking device is subjected tothe weight of the lamp in order that the device may be readily releasedby a manual operation.

The-leg portions 24 and 25 extend into the housing through a pair oftransverse slots 48 and 41 in the end thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. Theseslots open into the back of the housing, as shown in Fig. 4, and theback cover plate 48 is slotted at 49, as shown in Fig. 4, to permit thelocking device to move to its tilted position.

It will be apparent that when the locking device is moved into itsclosed or locking position, it has a snap action which is provided bythe shape of the locking projections 3| and 32.

In view of the foregoing detailed description of a preferred embodimentof my invention, it will be apparent that I have provided a lamp holderof the locking type which is of simple and economical construction andwhich will function to eflectively lock the lamp into the holder. Thelocking device is so constructed and related to the tuated to its closedand open position without removing it as a separate element from thehousing. In view of the nature of the locking device, it is alwaysapparent to the one who is inserting or removing a lamp that the lockingdevice is either in its locked or unlocked position. It is soconstructed that it remains in either one of these positions and has nointermediate position in which it would be ineflective.

The locking device itself may be formed by simple stamping and bendingoperations. Likewise, the housing of the holder may be readily molded toprovide the necessary internal projections and slots to cooperate withthe locking device. In other words, a holder may be constructed inaccordance with the teachings of my invention with very little, if any,machine operation. The housing is simply formed by molding and thelocking device inserted therein through the transverse slots 46 and 41and the cover 48 placed in position.

While I have shown a specific embodiment of my invention, it is to beunderstood that changes and modifications may be made therein withouthaving oppositely disposed projections on its inner side walls, and alamp lock mounted on the housing for limited longitudinal movement withrespect thereto, said lock being in the form of a U-shaped member withthe legs of the U positioned within the housing in sliding relation tothe inner side walls thereof and the leg connecting portion of the Upositioned over the entrance portion of the slot and having hook-shapedend portions disposed to engage said projections when the lock is movedto its locking position with the leg connecting in obstructing relationto the entrance portion of the slot.

2. A lamp holder for use with tubular discharge lamps comprising, ashell-type housing having a slot in the face and one end thereof toreceive the contact members of a lamp, a pair of resilient contactfingers mounted within the housing in cooperative relation with theslot, said housing having a plurality of spaced oppositely disposedprojections on its inner side walls intermediate its ends and transversespaced slots in its end portion on opposite sides of the slot therein,and a U- shaped locking member mounted on the housing with the legs ofthe member extending into the housing through said transverse slots intosliding engagement with the inner side walls, the ends of said legsbeing hook shaped to releasably engage one pair of said projections toretain said locking member in a locking position with its leg connectingportion in obstructing relation to the slot entrance and to engage saidother pair of projections to limit the movement of the locking memberwhen it is actuated to its unlocking position with its leg connectingportion out of ob structing relation to the slot entrance.

3. A lamp holder for use with tubular discharge lamps comprising, ahousing having a slot in one end and a face thereof to receive thecontact prongs of the lamp, said housing having at least one projectionon an inner wall thereof, contact fingers mounted in the housing incooperative relation with said slot, and a locking member mounted on thehousing for limited longitudinal movement relative thereto to preventthe lamp from becoming accidentally disengaged therefrom, said memberbeing U-shaped with the legs of the U disposed within the housing onopposite sides of the slot with the leg connecting portion of the Uextending over the entrance to the slot in the end of the housing andhaving the free end of at least one of the said legs shaped to engagesaid projection in the housing when the looking member is moved apredetermined distance out of the housing.

4. A lamp holder for use with tubular discharge lamps comprising, ahousing having a slot in one end and a face thereof to receive thecontact prongs of the lamp, contact fingers mounted within the housingin cooperative relation with said slot, a locking member secured to thehousing and having a portion thereof movable in and out of obstructingrelation with respect to the entrance portion of the slot, said lockingmember being U-shaped with the leg portions of the U being disposedwithin the housing for sliding movement endwise in and out thereof andthe connecting portion disposed outside the housing over the entranceslot, and stop means within the housing cooperative with the legportions of the locking member for limiting the endwise movement of .thelocking member out of the housing to a predetermined degree.

5. A lamp holder for use with tubular discharge lamps having a pair ofcontact prongs at either end thereof comprising, a shell-type housinghaving parallel inner side walls and a slot in one end and the facethereof to receive the contact prongs of the lamp and a pair oftransverse slots in the free ends of the legs of the U normally spreadapart a greater distance than the connected portions and extending intothe housing through the transverse end slots and disposed in slidingrelation with the inner side walls of the housing on opposite sides ofthe slot and with the leg connecting position of the .U positioned overthe entrance portion of the slot.

6. A lamp holder for use with tubular discharge lamps having a pair ofcontact prongs at eitherend thereof comprising, a shell-type housinghaving parallel inner walls with camming members thereon and a slot inone end and the face thereof to receive the contact prongs of the lamp,a plurality of contact fingers mounted within the housing in cooperativerelation with the slot, and a U-shaped locking member having elongatedleg portions and a leg connecting portion mounted on the housing withthe leg portions of the U positioned within the housing in slidingrelation with the inner walls of the housing for longitudinal movementin and out of the housing to position the leg connecting portion intoand out of obstructing relation to the entrance portion of the slot,said locking member having camming surfaces on its leg portionsintermediate their ends disposed to engage the camming members on theinner walls to efiect a tilting movement of said member away from theface of the holder as it is moved out of the housing.

'7. A lamp holder for use with tubular discharg lamps comprising, ashell-type housing having a slot in the face and one end thereof toreceive the contact members of a. lamp, said housing having a pair oftransverse slots in one end thereof on opposite sides of the slotentrance, a pair of contact springs mounted within the housing incooperative relation with the slot, a U-shaped locking member having legportions with hook members at their free ends and a leg connectingportion mounted on the housing with its leg portions exsaid end spacedon opposite sides of said slot tending into the housing through saidtransverse slots and its leg connecting portion disposed across theentrance portion of the slot, said locking member being movable in andout of the housing to position its connecting portion into and out ofcovering and uncovering relation with respect to the entrance portion ofthe slot, and locking projections on the inner side Walls of the housingdisposed to be releasably engaged by the hook shaped members on the legportions to retain the locking member in the housing.

8. A lamp holder for use with tubular discharge lamps comprising, ashell-type housing having a slot in the face and one end thereof toreceive the contact members of a lamp, said housing having apair oftransverse slots in one end thereof on opposite sides of the slotentrance and internal camming members on the side walls thereof, saidhousing also having an internal stop member on a side wall spaced apredetermined distance longitudinally from the slotted end of thehousing, a pair of contact springs mounted within the housing incooperative relation with the slot, a U- shaped locking member mountedon the housing with its leg portions at least one of which is hookshaped at its free end extending into the housing through saidtransverse slots and its leg connecting portion disposed across theentrance portion of the slot for longitudinal movement within thehousing between predetermined limits as determined by said stop memberand the hook shaped end of a leg portion, said leg portions having camportions intermediate their ends cooperating with the internal cammingmembers of the housing to effect a. tilting movement of the lockingmember away from the slotted face of the housing as it is moved out ofthe housing.

9. A lamp holder for use with tubular discharge lamps comprising, ashell-type housing having a slot in the face and one end thereof toreceive the contact members of a lamp said housing having a pair oftransverse slots in one end thereof on opposite sides of the slotentrance, said housing also having a pair 0f oppositely disposedinternal projections on the opposite side walls thereof intermediate theends thereof, a pair of contact springs mounted within the housing incooperative relation with the slot, a U-shaped locking member mounted onthe housing for movement in and out of the housing with its leg portionsextending into the housing through said transverse slots in slidingengagement with the internal side walls of the housing and itsconnecting portion disposed across the entrance portion of the slot,said leg portions of the locking member and the internal side walls ofthe housing being so shaped as to cause said Number Name Date 22,287,276 Runge June 23, 1942 2,324,683 Despard July 20, 1943 2,336,599

8 locking member to swing back away from th slotted face of the housingwhen partially withdrawn from the housing intoan unlocking position,thereby to reduce the amount of longitudinal movement of said member toa minimum to give sufficient clearance of the entrance portion oi theslot for insertion of a lamp, said leg portions having hook shaped endsextending beyond the internal projections and disposed to engage saidprojectlons to limit the outward longitudinal movement of the lockingmember.

CHARLES H. HODGKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Dunbar Dec. 14, 1943,

